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Lady spikers end on positive note
by Julie Stocker
Assistant Sports Editor
"Improvement, determination,
and intensity" is how Head Coach
Sharon Gregory describes the
1995 volleyball season for the
Lady Lions.
Last Thursday, Behrend hosted
Hiram for the final home match
of the season. Despite the fact
that the Lady Lions had a lead in
all three games, including a 7-0
advantage in the second game,
Behrend fell 15-13,15-12,15-13.
"We didn't play well or
communicate well," said a
frustrated Coach Gregory. "We
were flat as far as intensity is
concerned."
Erin McCormick led the Lady
Lions in the losing effort with 16
blocks and nine kills. Angie
Georg and Robin Mangus were
tied with a team-high 15 assists
each, and Amy Beckner added the
strength for the Lady Lions with
ten kills.
Although Behrend lost the
match against Hiram, they
quickly rebounded as they loaded
the bus to make the long haul to
the Messiah College
Tournament. The Lady Lions
returned home with smiles and
second place hardware.
"[The tournament] was a great
way for us to end our season,"
said Gregory. "Everything
worked for us."
Beckner agreed with her coach,
"This was the best we've played
all season."
As the Lady Lions went 4-2 in
the tournament, the two losses
came at the hands of Ithaca
College (15-7,15-7 and 15-4,15-
7); the third ranked team in the
country.
"We gave them a run for their
money," said Gregory. "We
played at their caliber of
volleyball. [lthaca] basically hit
McCormick blocks to national
by Matt Plizga
Collegian Staff
“Erin is a very good team
player. She displays good
leadership and excels in all
aspects of the game,” said Jamie
Bideaux, teammate of this weeks
Housing and Food Service
Athlete of the Week, Erin
McCormick.
Erin earned ATW honors with
her dominant play throughout the
year and at last weekends Messiah
Tournament. Erin led the
women’s volleyball team to an
outstanding tourney, finishing
second to nationally ranked Ithaca
College. She had 22 kills and 31
blocks in the tournament.
Erin’s season totals include
250 kills and 330 blocks. Her
330 blocks this season places her
second in the Behrend record
books for blocks in a season.
She is also fourth in career
blocks and eighth in kills in a
season.
“My buddy Erin deserves more
recognition than she gets,
probably because she is so
modest,” stated teammate Jen
Leone. Coach Sharon Gregory
the ball harder and faster than we
did."
Despite the type of offense
Ithaca ran, Behrend did not shy
away. In fact, Ithaca (35-2) had
the Lady Lions at match point on
three different occasions until
they finally put them away.
"We kept fighting," said
Gregory, on Behrend's refusal to
quit.
In the tournament, Kim
Vollmer led the Lions with kills
by chalking up 28, and 10
blocks. Erin McCormick put up
the big wall as she led Behrend
with 31 blocks and 22 kills. Jen
Leone served up 12 aces and 17
kills, while Georg had 28 assists
and 24 kills, Amy Good finished
with 17 kills, and Mangus set up
29 assists.
"We had a very enjoyable
season," commented Gregory.
"Everyone from top to bottom
improved tremendously. We
struggled at the beginning, but
we are where I hoped we would
be. It was a very productive and
positive season, and we are
looking forward to next year.
There are no seniors, and most of
the team is confirmed on
staying."
Although Gregory concentrates
on the play of the team as a
whole, she did have positive
comments on certain players.
"As a team, we gelled at
working together having fun and
things were working for us. It
was exciting for us to have Erin
nationally ranked. I can't wait to
see where she will be ranked next
week."
Gregory was quick to recognize
the fact that on the other side of
the rotation from McCormick
was another middle hitter.
"Kim gave us a lot of
leadership from the captain
position. She was also given the
responsibility of handling the
Turn around bright eyes: ATW Erin McCormick puts on her game face in a match.
agrees. “Erin is quiet and per game,” Coach Gregory stated. Tournament in which Erin raised
modest, but she has a lot of She is currently sixth in the her average to 3.31 blocks per
confidence in her abilities.” nation with a 2.79 blocks per game.
“Erin is on pace to set a new game average. This ranking is Jen Leone says, “Erin is one of
national record for average blocks sure to improve after the Messiah the most well rounded players.
Sports
Photo by Jennifer V. Colvin /Editor in Chief
Make my day: Amy Good is ready for what ever the opposition throws her way. The Lady
Lions recently finished their season at the Messiah College Tournament this past weekend.
Behrend finished the season at 20-24.
mis-matches. She was often
against our opponent's number
one middle hitter."
Just as important as Behrend's
middle hitters, according to
Gregory, were the ball pounders
on the outside.
"Jen Leone allowed us to run a
lot of quick attacks, and it
benefited us that she is left
handed. Amy Good was a very
smart attacker as well as an
excellent passer, while Beckner
finally got used to her approach
and really improved the last half
of the season."
In order to run a successful
offense, however, the Lady Lions
needed to have an effective setter.
Fortunately for Behrend, there
were two setters able to do the
job.
"Angie did an excellent job of
running our offense and played
well despite being hurt, and
Robin met a lot of demands and
was often forced to challenge her
setting abilities."
In the off-season, the Lady
Lions will not have the
opportunity to get very
comfortable. As with most
collegiate sports, volleyball is a
year-round commitment, and
Gregory is set on the spikers
continuing to work hard. On the
agenda, Behrend will participate
in conditioning activities, as well
as a team study table once a
week.
Photo by Jennifer V. CoMn/Editor in Chief
Thursday, November 2, 1995
"Our focus is to get into a
couple of local tournaments,"
said Gregory. "We want to be
able to regroup before we head
out for the summer."
Now that we can turn the page
to another year of Behrend
volleyball, Coach Gregory and
Coach Brophy turn their attention
to the great outdoors and
softball.
"The wheels arc turning, and
some lineups arc being set. I'm
looking forward to a fun spring
of softball."
marks
She is versatile and adjusts well
to different situations.” Captain
Angie Georg proclaims, “We rely
on Erin for consistent blocking at
the net. In tight situations, we
go to Erin to put the ball away.”
“McCormick is dedicated and a
very strong player.” says Barb
Bailey. Coach Gregory adds,
“Erin is just now coming into
her own as a volleyball player.
She has a lot of potential and is
working hard to reach her full
potential.”
Despite her excellence in
blocking, Erin is not a one
dimensional player. “Erin excels
in many other areas of the game,”
stated Coach Gregory. “My goal
coming into the season was to be
consistent in all areas of the
game.” proclaimed Erin.
She also credits many of her
kills to the “outstanding sets
from Robin Mangus, Angie
Georg, Kim Vollmer, and Amy
Good.” Erin also feels that, “Jen
Leone deserves a lot of credit for
my blocks because she sets an
outstanding outside block' for
me.